Cy-Fair College hosts Opera-to-Go

Amanda Waters

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, May 11, 2004

May 14 at 4 p.m., Cy-Fair residents of all ages will get the opportunity to experience opera in a viewer-friendly way through the Houston Grand Opera's "Opera-To-Go." Performers will delight the audience with a modified version of Gioacchin Rossini's "The Barber of Seville."

"I'm always trying to bring a variety of cultural events to the Cy-Fair community," Sheppard said. "Downton is sometimes a little too far to drive, especially for teenagers. We're very lucky that the Houston Grand Opera has an outreach program."

"Opera-To-Go" was designed to expose more people to the opera, Sheppard noted. Many times, she said, people who have never experienced opera have misconceptions that keep them from every enjoying this wonderful art.

"Opera isn't something that most of aus are accustomed to hearing. We don't hear it on the radio and we don't see it on television," Sheppard said. "So many people who come to see the 'Barbara of Seville' will be experiencing it for the first time, and that's very special."

In addition to being a great afternoon of enternainment, the experience will also be a great educational opportunity, Sheppard said. Each attendee will receive a program guide which will not only define common opera terms, but provide information on Rossini and "The Barber of Seville."

Cy-Fair College music professor Alex Qian will also host a 3:30 p.m. pre-performance discussion "What is Opera?"

"The Barber of Seville" will be performed in English by contracted opera singers, most of whom are from the Houston Community College District. The sets and pianist will be provided by Houston Grand Opera.

The performance is open to anyone and everyone, Sheppard said, and should be a delight for people of all ages. Children, she noted, should be able to sit through an hour and a half performance.

The performance will be held at 4 p.m., May 14 in the Center for the Arts at Cy-Fair College, located at Barker Cypress and West Road. The performance is free, but seating is limited.